Why not start out the new year by cleaning out your computer so you can begin afresh?

I will just go through the basics. Begin by cleaning out all the unnecessary files and programmes on your computer, and then defragment your drive. You can then clean your hardware to get out all the accumulated dust, cobwebs and food you dropped in there over the past year.

Windows users can first use the ?Disk Cleanup? utility in the ?System Tools? folder (located from the Start menu in the ?Accessories? folder).

Run that to clean out temporary Internet files and your Recycle Bin. Next go to the ?Start? menu and click on ?Search?. Type in ?*.tmp?.

The star sign is a variable that allows the search to find any file with the ?tmp? ending. Delete all temporary files that are not in the System Folder. These are files left over after installing programmes or because of a computer crash or most likely because Word crashed on you.

Afterwards get on the Internet to . Click on the ?Downloads? section and get the following software using the site?s search engine: Spybot Search & Destroy, TweakNow RegCleaner and Ad-Aware.

These are three free programmes you can use to delete spam and advertising producing programmes that are chewing up your computer?s hard drive. Be careful when using these programmes as they sometimes bring up important files that may be necessary to the functioning of your computer.

Back up your registry and other important files before performing any deletions. When in doubt about files, do a search of the Internet to find out about the file. When in doubt, do not delete!

When you have finished, defragment your hard-drive using the Systems Tools from the Start menu.

To learn how to properly clean your hardware (computer, screen, mouse, keyboard etc.) go to . I am always shocked by the piles of dust balls that I pull out of my computer every six months or so.

Remember anything blocking your computer from cooling down properly will harm the insides eventually.

I remember visiting the home of a tech guy in Bermuda and seeing his machine completely open (with the side panels removed) and with a fan blowing through the insides... now that is high tech!

Meanwhile Apple users can go to , which has just published a timely article on how to maintain Mac OS X systems (see ?Mac OS X System Maintenance Utilities Roundup?).

The site advises Mac users to regularly use the Repair Permissions utility that comes with your system. Also search for and download the free utilities MacJanitor or DoktorKleanor 10.2 Cocktail, a utility that also started out as freeware, now costs about $15.

you can use Cocktail ten times before you have to pay. Do read the article, however. It is the first comprehensive assessment I have seen of all the maintenance utilities available for the Mac.

You can also try the free OnyX utility, which is available for download from the Apple site

? Guys worried about protecting their valuables when using a laptop while on the go can now shield their legs with LapWorks? LapTop Desk. This will calm fears about fertility loss after the publication of a scary study by State University of New York. Researchers there concluded that the heat generated by laptops could significantly elevate the temperature of the scrotum, potentially putting sperm count at risk.

The laptop platform is thin and folds up into a computer bag. It comes in two models, one lighter than the other. At about $30 it is worth the protection. Go to for more information.

@EDITRULE:

If you received a digital camera for Christmas (lucky you) and want to learn how to take great photographs using all the new features that are being packed into them then sign up for Cnet?s digital photography course.

A date has not been announced yet for the start of the course but you can put your name down in advance for ?Beyond Point & Shoot: Digital Photography Techniques? at Click on the ?Online Courses? section and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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